Lighting fixture for storerooms



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CARLA. CAMPEN ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1943.,

C. A. CAMPEN LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR STOREROOMS Filed Jan. 22, 1942 Nov. 30, 1943. c. A. CAMPEN LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR STOREROOMS Filed Jan. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N n w M y m T A R w O U T v A T m A L C 6N Y Q B m m v 99 I. w NN Nu b w 1 a T v My m M, H. RN mN m @Q T NN N vY/c/ Patented Nov. 353, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR STOREROOMS Carl A. Campen, University City, Mo. Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,690

12 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in storeroom lighting fixtures, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

This lighting fixture is built in sections for various lengths of fluorescent lamps, and each fixture may be used independently or in series coordinated in one continuous line. That is, it may be used as an individual fixture, or as a continuous line lighting fixture by attaching any number of units together. Within the frame work of this fixture, i an interior container in which the wiring is carried and to which the various auxiliaries, sockets, etc., are attached. This container may be constructed in various forms to adapt it to the number of lamps to be used within the fixture. A certain portion of the lower part of the body of the container is provided with an easily removable inspection plate to make the interior thereof readily accessible for the purpose of inspecting, renewing and exchanging the auxiliaries, including ballast, electric compensators and lampholders, and other accessories without dis-assembling or dismantling the entire fixture.

The main objects of this invention are to provide means, first, for mounting oppositely inclined glazed frames in a .triangular longitudinal casing having lamps and auxiliaries, and mounting said glazed frames so as to be easily opened from closed, inclined position to vertical hanging position and render the interior of the fixture and the said frames readily accessible for cleaning, replacement of parts, and other purposes; second, for so mounting a bottom plate of a container compartment within said casing as to render the contained parts readily accessible; third, for aligning and supporting a longitudinal lighting fixture from substantially the longitudinal central line of a storeroom, and providing said casing with glazed frames adjustably mounted in the inclined lateral sides diverging upward from the lower apex and adapted to distribute light from fluorescent lamps contained in said casing uniformly throughout the area of the storeroom; and other points of construction making for emciency in operation of the lighting fixture.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a lighting fixture exemplifying my invention mounted on the ceiling of a bay intermediate the dependent beams or side-wall covers;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of part of Fig. 1, with ceiling in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a triangular partition casting adapted to be mounted between respective sections of said fixture showing main supporting means for the casting, and for supporting the glazed panels in the inclined sides, partly broken away to show the construction;

Fig}! is a similar detail of a glazed frame partly broken away to show the construction;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; 4

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional-elevation of said lighting fixture and adjacent ceiling indicating its method of attachment thereto, its enclosed lamps, and auxiliaries;

Fig. '7 is a transverse section of said fixture and adjacent ceiling on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section on the vertical line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a store ceiling to which is screwed or otherwise secured a channel 2 extending lengthwise with the web downward and tapped to receive bolts 3 which pass through a top plate 4 and slotted lugs 5 at the middle of the top bar 6 of triangular frames preferably in the form of castings providing depending partitions, spaced definite distances apart throughout the length of the ceiling channel to constitute sections of the fixture that are closed by oppositely inclined glazed frames 1 that approximately meet end to end on the inclined side bars 8 of said triangular castings, respectively.

These side bars 8 are respectively integral with said top bar 6 and with each other by a laterally enlarged connecting boss 9 at the lower apex or corner of said casting and leaving an opening l0 below said top bar 6.

Extending obliquely upwardly from the boss 9, are lateral fins or ribs ll set inward from, and lengthwise registering with, the outer edges of the respective side bars 8 to form rabbet grooves on both sides of each inclined side bar to receive the adjacently disposed glazed frames 1 through which passes the light from a multiple set of fluorescent lamps I2 in each section.

As illustrated, the said apex or corner boss 9 of said casting is provided with tapped holes in each face for fastening thereto connecting angle plates l3, the lateral edges of which extend above the said boss and make a connecting groove [4 at the bottom of said rabbets in which is disposed the lower edge of a glazed fram 1 when in its closed inclined position, as shown at the left in Fig. 8.

The upper lateral corners l5 of said triangular casting are provided with similar tapped holes for fastening an upper plate bar or rail 16 connecting these upper corners. The lower portion l6 of said bar 16 is angularly disposed adjacent the upper ends or shoulders ll of the said fins II, and such lower bar-portion l6 acts as a support for the upper edge of the glazed frame 'I when the latter is disposed in its inclined position with its lower edge in the groove M, as indicated at the left in Fig. 8. When, however, the frame 1 with its glass has been lifted out of the groove l4, it is supported in a vertical position by hooks 18 on its upper corners, which curve inward and downward so as to engage said adjacent shoulders II, as shown in Fig. 8 at the right. In this hanging position of the frame, the lower portion l6 of said upper plate bar I6 acts to limit the outward swing of the frame in its hanging position. It also facilitates engagement of the hooks IS with a shoulder I! when the hooks 18 are lowered after the lower marginal portion of a frame 'I is disengaged from the groove l4. As indicated at the left in Fig. 8, a frame I at its upper marginal portion rests on the lower side l6- of the upper plate bar, while the lower edge of the frame is resting in said groove l4. When a frame I, however, is lifted manually by means of the downwardly projecting lip I9 to disengage it from the groove I4 and the frame I then allowed to swing outward and downward, the hooks l8 are caused to engage the adjacent shoulder IT by this plate l6, which acts as a keeper for the upper edge of the glazed frame 1. When the hooks l8 are thus engaged by the adjacent shoulder I1, as shown at the right in Fig. 8, the glazed frame I is hanging vertically and allows access to the interior of the casing. In this position also the glass in said frame is accessible for cleaning.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the upper edge of said keeper plate bar l6 makes a tight joint with the downturned flange 4' of the said dust pan 4.

To this dust pan 4, is soldered or otherwise secured the heads of depending bolts 20, Fig. 7, which pass through the top 2| of a trough-like box having inclined sides 22 and bottom 23, which respectively carry lampholders 24 projecting outward as shown in Fig. 8 to receive in their socket ends the said lamps l2, as shown in Fig. 6.

The lamph'olders il are provided with wires 25, which connect the several holders and pass above the top 2| in the space between said top and said dust plate 4. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the sides 22 are provided with offset flanges 26 engaging the under side 'of the dust plate 4 and supported by the nut of the depending bolt 20. The side edge of the top 21 also engages the bolt at each side edge (Fig. 7) and the nut at the end of the bolt on each side allows detaching the box for any desired purpose. However, the bottom 23 of said trough has an'inspection door or plate 23' (Figs. 6 and '7) detachably'supporting it, by which access is given to the interior of this container for inspection or replacement of auxiliary parts, such as the ballast 21 and compensator 28 respectively supported by the top 2|, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. This detachable inspection plate 23' avoids dismantling the container and its parts when it is desired to inspect or replace any of said parts.

As previously stated, this lighting fixture may be used as individual sections or spaced-apart triangular castings before described, in which case the outer ends of the castings are closed by end plates 29, Fig. 6, making it an individual unit. When, however, the lighting fixture is to be used lengthwise on a store or other ceiling, the several units are divided into sections by these triangular castings, which are connected by the angle plate strips i3 and the keeper plates l6 previously described.

In such continuous line of lighting fixture, the unit sections thus coordinated ar accurately aligned by the said channel 2 as before described, and a correctly aligned continuous triangular casing is thus provided as indicated in Fig. 1.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, except by the app claimsinstallation conditions without departing from the intended scope of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighting fixture for attachment to a ceiling comprising reversed triangular castings with apices downward dividing the fixture into sections and having fins projecting from their opposite faces forming rabbet grooves along inclined edges and forming shoulders at their upper ends, bottom angle bars connecting said apices, glazed frames disposed in said grooves and having hooks engaging the shoulders of said fins when hanging thereon, and disengaged by lifting the frames upward into sliding engagement of the respective lower edge with said bottom angle bars.

2. A lighting fixture comprising two spacedapart triangular castings adapted to be secured to a ceiling with apices downward, and having fins projecting from their opposing faces forming shoulders at their upper ends and rabbet grooves at said inclined edges, a bottom angle bar plate connecting said apices, and top bar plates mounted respectively opposite said shoulders, glazed frames respectively mounted by their ends in said grooves and slidingly engaging said bottom angle bar by their respective lower edges and engaging said top bar plates by their respective upper edges when in closed position, and having hooks at their upper corners to engage said shoulders when their lower edges are disengaged and the'frames are disposed in vertical hanging position and are limited in outward swing by said top bar plates.

3. A lighting fixture including, in combination with a support, a pair of main frames dependingly fixed to said support in spaced parallel relation, each of said frames comprising side bars converging downwardly to an apex, glazedframes extending between the main frames and loosely supported in opposed angular relation on said bars for edgewise shiftable movement, and means comprising co-operably engageable shoulders and hooks on the side bars and glazedframes for dependingly supporting the glazedframes from said bars when edgewise shifted from normal position with respect to the main frames.

4. A lighting fixture including, in combination with a support, a pair of main frames dependingly fixed to said support in spaced parallel relation, each of said frames comprising side bars converging downwardly to an apex, a grooveforming bar fixed to the side bars at their lower margin, a rail fixed to the side bars adjacent their upper margin, glazed-frames extending between the main frames and normally shiftably supported in opposed angular relation by said rails and grooves, and means comprising co-operably engageable members on the side bars and glazed-frames for dependingly supporting the glazed-frames when shifted from normal position with respect to the main frames.

5. A lighting fixture including a pair of main frames of triangular conformation each comprising a top bar, inclined side bars, cornerpieces joining the top and side bars, a corner boss joining the side bars, and ribs fixed on a side face of the side bars, said frames being adapted at their top bars for securement to a support to depend therefrom in spaced parallel relation with their respective corner bosses presented downwardly, an angle-plate extending be tween, and fixed to the bosses of, said frames for co-operation with said ribs at their lower margin in the provision of angularly opposed grooves, rails extending between, and fixed to and depending from the upper corners of, the main frames, and glazed-frames supported at their lower margins in said grooves and rested at their upper margin upon said rails.

6. A lighting fixture including a pair of main frames of triangular conformation each comprising a top bar, inclined side bars, cornerpieces joining the top and side bars, a corner boss joining the side bars, and ribs extending lengthwise along a side face, and disposed in spaced registering relation with the outer margin, of the side bars, said frames being adapted at their top bars for securement to a support to depend therefrom in spaced parallel'relation with their respective corner bosses presented downwardly, an angle-plate extending between, and fixed to the bosses of, said frames for co-operation with said ribs at their lower margin in the provision of angularly opposed grooves, rails extending between, and fixed to and depending from, the corner-pieces of the main frames, said rails being spaced from the upper margin of said ribs, and glazed-frames supported at their lower margin in said grooves and at their upper margin upon said rails, said glazed-frames being removable from said grooves to swingably depend from said ribs.

7. A lighting fixture including a pair of main frames of triangular conformation each comprising a top bar, inclined side bars, comerpieces joining the top and side bars, a comer boss joining the side bars, and ribs extending lengthwise along a side face, and disposed in spaced registering relation with the outer margin, of the side bars, said frames being adapted at their top bars for securement to a support to depend therefrom in spaced parallel relation with their respective corner bosses presented downwardly, an angle-plate extending between, and fixed to the bosses of, said frames for cooperation with said ribs at their lower margin in the provision of angularly opposed grooves, rails extending between, and fixed to and depending from, the comer-pieces of the min frames, said rails being spaced from the upper margin of said ribs, glazed-frames supported at their lower margin in said grooves and at their upper margin upon said rails, and hooks on the glazed-frames for engaging said ribs for dependingly supporting the glazed-frames when shifted from said grooves.

8. In a lighting fixture, a glazed-frame supporting member in the form of a casting of triangular conformation and comprising a top bar, side bars extending in converging relation from the outer ends of the top bar to an apex, corner-pieces integrally joining the top and side bars, a corner boss integrally joining the side bars at their apex, and ribs disposed on a side face, and in spaced registering relation with the outer margin, of the side bars, said frame being adapted at its top bar for depending engagement with a support.

9. In a lighting fixture, a glazed-frame supporting member in the form of a casting of triangular conformation and comprising a top bar, side bars extending in converging relation from the outer ends of the top bar to an apex, corner-pieces integrally joining the top and side bars, a corner boss integrally joining the side bars at their apex, and ribs disposed on a side face, and in spaced registering relation with the outer margin, of the side bars, said top bar being slotted for adjustably accommodating a fastening member for dependingly supporting the frame from a support.

10. In a lighting fixture, a glazed-frame supporting member in the form of a casting of triangular conformation and comprising a top bar, side bars extending in converging relation from the outer ends of the top bar to an apex, corner-pieces integrally joining the top and side bars, a corner boss integrally joining the side bars at their apex, and ribs disposed on a side face, and in spaced registering relation with the outer margin, of the side bars, said frame being adapted at its top bar for depending connection with a support and said corner-pieces and corner boss being tapped for connection with glazedframe supporting members.

11. A lighting fixture including, in combination, a dust-pan, a pair of main frames in spaced parallel relation, each main frame comprising a top cross-bar and side bars extending from the opposite outer ends of the cross-bar in converging relation to an apex, means engaging the main frame crossbars and the dust-pan for securing the same to a support with said main frame underlying the dust-pan and its side bars presented downwardly from said cross-bar, glazed panel top and bottom supporting members extending longitudinally between the main frames, and a trough-like accessory box disposed longitudinally of the fixture intermediate the main frame side bars and comprising a flanged bottom member and a. top member detachably connected in depending relation to the dust-pan.

12. A lighting fixture including, in combination, a dust-pan, a pair of main frames in spaced parallel relation, each main frame comprising a top cross-bar and side bars extending from the opposite outer ends of the cross-bar in converging relation to an apex, means engaging the mam frame cross-bars and the dust-pan for securing the same to a support with said main frame underlying the dust-pan and its side bars presented downwardly from said cross-bar, glazed panel top and bottom supporting members extending longitudinally between the main frames, bolts fixed to and depending from the dust-pan, and a trough-like accessory box disposed longitudinally of the fixture intermediate the main frame side bars and comprising a flanged bottom member and a top member engaged with said bolts and by said bolts dependmgly supported under and in spaced relation to the dust-pan and crossbar for providing a wiring space therebetween, said box in its bottom member having an aperture and a shiftable closure for enabling access to the interior thereof.

CARL A. CAMPER. 

